Campos Racing have confirmed Argentine racer Esteban Guerrieri as driving with the team for a minimum of five events in the 2017 World Touring Car Championship season.
Guerrieri made his début with the Spanish team in Argentina last season, picking up a sixth-placed finish in the Main Race after showing impressive speed throughout the weekend.
The Argentine racer will again be at the wheel of a Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 car, which has been entered for the full season. Guerrieri has been confirmed for at least the first four events in Morocco, Italy, Hungary and Germany, as well as the event in Argentina.
Efforts are continuing to put together a deal for Guerrieri to also compete in the other five events of the ten-event 2017 WTCC season.
“After my debut last year I always hoped to come back racing in the WTCC so this means a lot,” said Guerrieri. “I really like the high competition level, the cars are awesome to drive and we’re running on the best circuits around the world so it will definitely be good fun.
“I already know the guys at Campos Racing, I know what they are made of and this is a great opportunity for all of us as a team. The potential is there I have no doubt and if we get it right we can achieve big things.”
Guerrieri will dovetail his WTCC campaign with a championship challenge in the Argentine Súper TC2000 series with Citroën.
“There are no clashes on the calendar but many consecutive racing weekends so an organised agenda and to rest properly will be crucial to face the long flights,” added Guerrieri. “My body is still young enough to cope!
“The lack of pre-season testing will be the biggest problem. But of course we will try to face that with the right preparation and attention to detail in order to absorb quickly as much information as possible.”
Campos Racing’s Ruben Espin sees the signing of Guerrieri as an opportunity for the team to return to the sharp end of the grid, after several years bringing on new drivers.
“We are excited to have Esteban with us in the team,” added Espin. “Our role in the last few years has been developing young drivers. Since 2010/2011 when Gabriele [Tarquini], Tiago [Monteiro] and Jordi [Gené] raced for us we were not able to fight for the title. But we are back to show Esteban’s skills and convince sponsors to support us in the second half of the season.”
Guerrieri’s signing means that there will continue to be a strong presence of Argentine drivers on the grid this year, despite three-time champion José María López leaving the WTCC.
The 32-year-old will go up against fellow countryman Néstor Girolami for bragging rights at home in the championship this year.
Head of Eurosport Events, François Ribeiro, has made no secret of his admiration for South American racers, and hopes that Guerrieri can showcase his talent even more in 2017.
“Esteban did great at Termas last year and it could have been so much better for him without the clutch problem affecting his races,” said Ribeiro. “He adapted super quickly to the WTCC, the Chevrolet TC1 World Touring Car and Yokohama tyres.
“He deserves this chance to race in the WTCC and I am happy he can show his talent on other tracks, just like Néstor Girolami will do.”